Climate change is increasing the number of disasters which hit children in poor countries, campaigners have warned.

According to a study by Unicef, Plan International and Save the Children, there has been a steady increase in disasters linked to climate change over the past 10 to 20 years.

It warns that low-level frequent climatic disasters including floods and droughts hit children hard. The report looked at eight countries which regularly experience such events, and found a link between an increase in disasters and diarrhoea, low birth weight and malnutrition. In most of the countries children’s education suffered because of disaster damage and illness.